NBAA offers the Al Ueltschi Award for Humanitarian Leadership in recognition of the spirit of service demonstrated by humanitarian leaders within the business aviation community. Created in 2006, the award is presented annually during the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE).
Albert L. Ueltschi, the award’s namesake, has been widely recognized for his lifetime of dedication to philanthropic causes. He was instrumental in the development of ORBIS, an international non-profit organization dedicated to preventing blindness and saving sight, and he has served as chairman of that organization for more than 20 years.
Al Ueltschi Award for Humanitarian Leadership Winners
- Sean Tucker and the Bob Hoover Academy, a non-profit corporation that seeks to inspire at-risk and underserved teens to engage in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education and learn to fly. (2018)
- The business aviation community that contributed to relief flights and other efforts, following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate throughout August, September and October 2017. (2017)
- No award given (2015-2016)
- International Jet Aviation Services, in recognition of their 25 years of work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, using the “Dream Chaser” jet to lift the spirits of critically ill children. (2014)
- Harrison Ford, in recognition of his extensive work as an outspoken champion for general aviation. Ford also regularly flies missions in support of humanitarian and philanthropic causes. (2013)
- FedEx Express, a division of FedEx Corp., and its founder, Frederick W. Smith, in recognition of being, for more than 30 years, the leading aviation sponsor of the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital, which brings together dedicated eye care professionals and aviators to give the gift of sight to people in developing countries around the world (2012)
- Bill Frist, former U.S. Senate majority leader, surgeon and pilot, in recognition of his life-saving efforts worldwide, and the importance of business aviation to those endeavors (2011)
- Donors and volunteers in the business aviation community – including pilots, aircraft owners, FBO staff, schedulers/dispatchers, airport officials and many others – who responded to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti following a devastating earthquake, in recognition of their outstanding relief efforts (2010)
- Civil Air Patrol, a federally supported non-profit organization serving as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force that utilizes general aviation aircraft for rescue missions, in recognition of the organization’s efforts to provide disaster relief for people and communities in times of crisis (2009)
- Corporate Angel Network, in recognition of the organization’s work to provide free flights aboard business aircraft to enable cancer patients to receive treatments (2008)
- Veterans Airlift Command, in recognition of the organization’s work to provide flights for wounded soldiers, veterans and their families (2007)
- Cessna Aircraft Company, in recognition of the Cessna Citation Special Olympics Airlift (2006)
Recipients of this award are determined by NBAA; nominations are not accepted.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.